Case study - Supporting the mental health needs of Ukrainians

Supporting the mental health needs of Ukrainians

Many of those arriving in Gloucestershire under the Homes for Ukraine scheme struggle with their mental health, trying to cope with the trauma they experienced in Ukraine and during their journey to the UK, as well as dealing with the continued uncertainty and ongoing conflict at home.

A range of services across the county exist to support with mental health, and all new Ukrainian arrivals are ‘signposted’ to these services. This support aims to help not just those in crisis, but also those seeking help with anxiety, low mood, depression; or seeking support in their community with their general or emotional wellbeing. Handouts and online resources are available for both adults and children and translated into Ukrainian and Russian.

At the beginning of the scheme, the host families welcoming refugees into their homes reported that they were struggling to know how to help their guests. Emotional support sessions and online training packs were therefore developed to help them understand the impact of trauma and displacement on the mental health of their Ukrainian guests. Hosts were offered advice and tools to help them establish a ‘safe space’.

This work was informed by the principles of ‘Psychological First Aid’, an evidence-based technique which supports the emotional wellbeing of people who have experienced crisis situations. These sessions also enabled hosts to connect with each other and create informal peer support networks.

Support for children arriving from Ukraine was central to the initial local response. Many of the children had had a difficult time, with traumatic experiences leaving their homes, families and friends in Ukraine. Support was made available to schools in the county who were starting to welcome Ukrainian young people into their communities. The Gloucestershire Educational Psychology Service produced new guidance about understanding the impact of experiencing war and trauma on young people and they provided tailored advice on supporting their students.

A trauma informed toolkit to help schools to support young people experiencing separation, loss or bereavement was adapted specifically for Ukrainian families and refugees called ‘Bear Us In Mind’. These were shared with schools and children’s centres across the county, alongside training sessions.

In addition to these resources and support sessions, the mental wellbeing of Ukrainian arrivals and other refugees in our county is a priority for many volunteers, charities and professionals across Gloucestershire; and their contribution is enormous.